WAG 01-05-03: Suspected Elder Abuse and Neglect - Community Cases

It is the DHS employee's judgment as to whether the abused person is able to report the abuse themselves. Ask yourself the following questions to help determine if a person is capable of self-reporting:

Does the person understand the facts of their situation?

Does the person express a free choice about their situation?

Does the person understand the risks and benefits of that choice?

If you are unsure whether an older person is able to report for themselves, but you suspect they are being abused, DoA encourages you to voluntarily report the situation.